Cam Newton said in an interview with CBS Sports that he “absolutely” expects to be back with the Panthers in 2020.
“It’s devastating to not have the coach who drafted you, but at the same time, you’ve got to turn the page,” Newton said. “I had an unbelievable conversation with Marty Hurney, the G.M., David Tepper the owner, as well as Coach Rhule, the new head coach. And I left that meeting inspired. And I told them, ‘You won’t find another person in that locker room with more to prove, not only to you, but I’ve got to prove to myself.’”
On Friday, Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler reported that the Panthers want to see Newton work out on the field in March when healthy so they can get a full evaluation of him.
A team source tells ESPN: “They want to at least give him a shot, see where he’s at. Then we’ll see what happens.”
Last month, Ian Rapoport reported the Panthers won’t give away Newton but many around the NFL expect them to deal the former MVP if they get a deal that makes it worth their while.
According to Rapoport, Carolina will be looking for a “significant return” for Newton.
Newton’s future with the team is up in the air after two major injuries the past two seasons as he enters the last year of his contract in 2020.
Newton, 30, is a former first-round pick of the Panthers back in 2011. He is entering the fifth year of his six-year, $118.47 million contract that includes $60 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $16.2 million and $18.6 million over the final two years of the agreement.
In 2019, Newton appeared in two games for the Panthers, completing 50 out of 89 passes for 572 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He has also rushed five times for -2 yards.
We’ll have more on Newton as the news is available.
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